M3 sedan performance

[cmsrsmth]

I am looking to buy a 1997 M3 sedan. I drove it today, and was underwhelmed by its performance! Am I missing something? I know it won't handle like the coupe, but I was at least expecting it to pull harder than my 325is. The car seems a bit shady, so I'm wondering if maybe there's a different motor in the car than an actual M3's motor. Has anybody out there driven these cars that would be able to describe how they drive?

[dboyles]

It's possible that one or more cylinders is low on compression. I suppose a combination of deferred maintenance could cause the car to not perform up to par either.

If something doesn't seem right with the car, simply pass on it. There are plenty of good cars out there for sale.

And there's really no reason why a sedan would handle much differently from the coupe. The weight difference is small, and I've actually heard that the sedan has more structural rigidity. In practice, though, I believe that the differences are negligible.

[Jeron]

Yeah, what dboyles said.

And it should run like a scalded cat.

[cmsrsmth]

thanks for the input. I have decided that someone must have dropped a 325 engine into the M3 (too many things under/outside/inside the car are actually M3 parts to think that they're just disguising a 325 somehow). There was really nothing exciting about the car. In fact, the owner once remarked to my friend that his 5 series pulled harder than his M3... he originally bought the car on e-bay, so that should tell you something as well!

Thanks for the replies. With your replies, and a couple of emails from owners of M3 sedans, I've decided to pass on this one, and look for another.

[Jeron]

The VIN is marked several places on the car and it will tell you what the original engine/model was. corner of windshield below the inspection sticker, Door jamb, LF strut tower

Type the last seven into
http://www.realoem.com

I don't know the best way to check the engine itself.

[fatboy]

I have a 97 M3 Sedan and I have no problem passing coupes on the track. Test drive a different car! If there is supposed to be a speed difference I have never noticed it and all my instructors have had coupes. Typically my car was stronger than theirs hands down.